7 Things You Must Know About Treating ADHD

By the time you finish reading this, hopefully you will have more information to help you deal with the everyday struggles of living with ADHD. Whether you or someone you love has this debilitating disorder, there is always the hope of finding alternative or complementary therapies to medication. So, here are 7 things you must know about treating ADHD:

It is a family disorder
You cannot cope alone
ADHD is not a solitary disability
The symptoms are not universal
Drugs are not the perfect answer
Alternative therapies are a must
ADHD treatment is for the whole family

Hopefully, in exploring these ideas regarding ADHD, you will have the tools needed to help both you and your loved ones.

Family disorder

If you or a loved one suffers from the daily challenges of ADHD, you have probably already figured out that it is a family disorder. Although one may have the medical problem of a chemical imbalance in the brain, everyone in the household suffers the consequences.

For some, it may seem like walking on egg shells all day long. Since the disorder is generally accompanied by bouts of inappropriate behavior, the question is always in mind: Is this a good day, or a bad one?

Siblings are often the recipients of blasts of moodiness and anger, yet the parents are spending the majority of their time trying to deal with a child who has special needs. It almost feels as if negative behavior has its rewards. Thus, treating ADHD should include the entire family, and not simply the person who has been diagnosed with the disorder.

Coping alone

Coping alone is not an option. Especially if an ADHD child is attending school, parents and teachers must work together, in the effort to provide the best education possible. In addition, without a respite from the pressures of living with a special needs child, the rest of the family might reach the breaking point. Thus, it is strongly recommended, in treating ADHD, to get involved with a support group and find another caregiver who is willing to take charge on occasion, so the rest of the family can rest and relax a bit.

A solitary disability

Unfortunately, ADHD is NOT a solitary disability. Thus, treating ADHD often involves addressing other issues that are only compounding the symptoms and making life more unbearable for everyone concerned. For example, individuals with ADHD often have:

Sleep disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder
Depression
Anxiety
Conduct disorder
Tourette syndrome
Learning disabilities

Understandably, the children and adults who suffer from this often debilitating disorder would have other challenges due to the shear effort of trying to live with the symptoms that separate them from their peers. In addition, they are always the ones most likely to get into trouble for not behaving appropriately or fitting in with the expected norm.

Universal symptoms

Diagnosing and treating ADHD can be a challenge simply because the symptoms are not always the same. Every child exhibits periods of inattentiveness and hyperactivity. Sometimes, it is due to age or the circumstances of being in an excitable situation, or not having enough sleep.

On the other hand, people can still have ADHD and not show all the signs posted on some medical chart. Everyone diagnosed is a unique individual and the ADHD treatment should address their specific needs and not a generic solution for all.

Drugs

Drugs like Ritalin are often prescribed to people who have been diagnosed with ADHD. However, in and of themselves, drugs are not the only method of treating ADHD. Instead, medication is only part of the answer. In fact, the least amount of medication possible should be given, because any potential side effects will only make matters worse. In fact, more and more people are looking to alternative therapies, in order to reduce or eliminate medication altogether.

Alternative therapy

Alternative therapy is implemented in treating ADHD to include the entire family. In addition, dietary changes and social therapies can also help someone with the disorder cope, without having to be inundated with more drugs. For example, since ADHD medication is primarily stimulants, some patients swear caffeinated beverages have the opposite effect on their behavior.

ADHD treatment

In conclusion, the main thing to remember is that treating ADHD is not just for the person with the disorder. It includes the entire family. Living with the symptoms is no picnic for anyone, but with the right ADHD treatment, life can be happy and productive for the whole family.

Tina Matsunaga is a freelance writer for home-based businesses, Internet marketers, and professionals around the world. She enjoys working at home while raising 2 children. She holds a BA in English and secondary education from Regis University.

For more information on treating ADHD please visit http://www.curing-adhd-naturally.com